Lasswade-based Dobbies Garden Centres Limited is to acquire a further 31 centres from Wyevale Garden Centres.

The acquisition increases the Dobbies estate to 69 centres, taking annual sales to over £300m and making it the largest garden centre operator in the UK. The store portfolio is highly complementary to Dobbies’ existing estate. Completion will be phased across May and June 2019.

Graeme Jenkins, Dobbies CEO, said: “We are very pleased to have agreed this acquisition from Wyevale and we look forward to welcoming our new customers, as well as 1,400 new team members to Dobbies as we drive the growth of the business and deliver against our Strategic Plan.”

Andrew Bracey, Dobbies Chairman, said: “We are delighted to have now acquired a total of 37 garden centres from Wyevale. Since acquiring Dobbies in 2016 we have doubled it in size, expanded Dobbies’ national footprint and strengthened our position as the UK’s leading garden centre operator. All of this will benefit Dobbies’ customers with broader ranges, national coverage, a leading online offer and great prices.”

Anthony Jones, Chief Operating Officer of Wyevale Garden Centres said: “We are pleased to have agreed the sale of these centres to Dobbies and look forward to working closely with the Dobbies team as part of the transition. I’d like to thank all of our colleagues at these great centres and wish them well for what I’m confident will be a bright future with Dobbies.”